Three straight defeats for the first time in his Liverpool managerial career has left Arne Slot with plenty to ponder during the international break ahead of the visit of Manchester United to Anfield on Super Sunday.

It should be noted those trio of narrow losses, two of which occurred deep into stoppage time, did all come on the road against high-level opposition in Europe's most in-form team Crystal Palace [xG (Liverpool in bold): 2.92 vs 2.14], Turkish champions Galatasaray [1.72 vs 1.8] and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where the Reds often struggle [1 vs 1.95].

However, Liverpool themselves had benefited from late winners in all of their first five Premier League games, victories that now appear to have only papered over the cracks, although not for Slot.

The Dutchman had already noticed a trend in the second half of last season's title-winning campaign where opponents were no longer coming to attack his side, with Liverpool instead being picked off on the counter or when making individual errors, of which there have been plenty of late.

That has resulted in a noticeable drop off in the champions' attacking output - as well as a less assured looking defence - since the turn of...